Improvement in fences



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SHERIDAN,

PATENT Y NEW YORKZ IMPROVEMENT IN FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 103,903, dated June 7, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEWIS E. LOGKLING, of Perrysburg, in the county of Cattaraugus, and NATHANIEL N. WHITAKER, of Sheridan, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fences; and we do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our combined wooden and wire fence. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the arched and looped standards thereof. Fig. 3 is aside elevation, showing our improved method of securing the-ends of the top rails to each other when erected on hilly or broken ground.. Figt is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan of our metallic socket for joining two or more rails at right angles, as in turning corners or in uniting a division-fence with the main line.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each ligure.

The nature of this invention relates to an improved construction of fences composed partly of wood, but chiefly of iron wire, and is more especially designed as an improvement on the fence described in Letters Patent numbered 58,848, issued October 16, 1866, to Lewis E. Lockling.

It consists, first, in a novel and effective method of securing the ends of the top rails together in said loops to prevent them from being pulled apart in exposed situations; second, in a standard at the end-of a section of fence, secured to the arched standard and top rail, to which the wires of the fence are secured, and which are prevented from swaying bypassing through loops in a twisted wire suspended in the arch; and in the general arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter more fully shown and set forth.

In the drawings, A represent-s an arched standard, having in its upper part a loop, B, formedvby twisting half around the rod from which the standard is made. The lower ends are secured in any suitable foundation, or driven into the earth, forming apost to sustain the fence. The loops B receive the ends of the top rails, C, which may be inserted therein side by side, or halved in, as most convenient; but ou hillsides or broken ground, where they would draw away from each other, they are locked together, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The locking is eiected by making a tenon, a, on the ends ofthe rails, with a groove in the tenori adjoining its outer shoulder, in which the loop rests when the rails are in place, where they aresecured by wedges?) driven between them. To more eEectually resist longitudinal Astrain on the rails, pins o may be driven through both rails at either side of the loop.

D is a standard, of wood or metal, in the form of an inverted T. Its shorter arms are secured to the base of the standard A, and its longer arm to the top rail, by wood-screws or otherwise. It is provided with two rowsof holes disposed in pairs, through which the ends of wires E are passed and looped or twisted, to fasten them atthe ends ofthe sections offence.

F is a twisted wire, secured to the upper part ofthe arch in the standard A, extendingdownward, embracing in its course the horizontal wires E, and has its lower ends secured to the loWerlimbs ot' the standard, dividing the strain on the standard or brace D and preventing the wires E from swaying.

G is a clamp or socket, of cast or wrought metal, and is employed to join the ends of two upper rails together, at right angles with each other, by means of screws or bolts, in turning a corner, saving the time and expense of mortising the rails together. Where a divisionfence is to be joined tothe main line, two of the clamps are used, in connection w'ithaplate, G', as shown in Fig. 5.

In place of the wires E bars or rails of wood may be employed in connection with. the standards A, constructed as above described, and top rails,C; but such use of Wooden bars forms nov part of the present invention.

On very `steep hillsides the fence may be further strengthened by a tension-rod extending from the base of one standard to the top of the next one below.

What'we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The upper rails, C, provided with' tenons a and Wedges b, in combination with the loops' B, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The standards D, of the form of an inverted T, at the end of a section of fence, secured to the arched standard A and top rail, C, in combination with the twisted Wire F and the horizontal Wires E, when constructed as described, and arranged to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The arrangement of the standards Aand D, the loop B, the rails C, provided with tenons a and Wedges b, the wires E and F, and theclamp Gr, when constructed as described, and for the purpose set forth.

L. E. LOGKLING. v N. N. WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

J. G. REooRD, S. BALEUM. 

